Side bearing construction for railroad car bolster assemblies



Aug. 27, 1957 R. s. JIROCH 2,804,356

SIDE BEARING CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILROAD CAR BOLSTER ASSEMBLIES Filed NOV. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gi m v Ina/12251 4-4-5 1apiz 5 yi/racfz Giivraeq Aug. 27, 1957 R. s. JIROCH 2,804,356

SIDE BEARING CONSTRUC N FOR RAILROAD CAR BOLSTER A MBLIES Filed NOV. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 JhUrZZQr 33 @1693 5: lprc'ficfe .rzzey SIDE BEARING CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILROAD CAR BOLSTER ASSEMBLIES Ralph S. Jiroch, Racine, Wis., assignor to Beiie City Malleable Iron Company, a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 13, 1956, Serial No. 621,670

9 Claims. (Cl. 308138) This invention relates to an improvement in bolster bearing constructions. More particularly the invention relates to a side bearing utilized in connection With the body bolster and truck bolster of a rail vehicle.

In the operation of railway vehicles it is necessary to provide bearing or bumper constructions disposed on laterally opposite sides of the center of the railway car between the body bolster and the truck bolster, the said bumpers or bearings limiting the angular tilt of the railway car body with respect to its wheel truck during normal operation. These bumpers or bearings are subject to great stresses and resultant wear and it is extremely important, due to railway regulations and operating procedures, that the clearance between the body holster and the bumper be constantly maintained within certain limits and tolerances. This is, of course, very difficult to maintain in view of rapid wear of the bumper elements and thus it is frequently necessary to return the railway cars to the shop for shimming or adjusting of the bumpers so that they come within the stated tolerances. The shimming procedure of the bumpers is quite expensive since it is necessary frequently to remove the complete bumper assembly or to loosen up the fastening bolts sufficiently to permit the insertion of a shim. This procedure is of necessity quite tedious and slow and, therefore, the maintenance of the bumper assemblies is quite elaborate. It is a prime object of this invention therefore to provide an improved adjustable side hearing or bumper assembly in connection with railway vehicles.

A still further object is to provide an improved bumper assembly for railway vehicles, the said assembly being quickly adjustable to compensate for wear of its elements.

A still further object is the provision of an improved side bearing assembly for railway vehicles wherein the assembly includes a plurality of shim members adapted to be easily assembled or deleted thereby permitting quick adjustment of the relative height distance between the bearing assembly and the body bolster which normally engages the said bearing assembly during operation.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a cross-sectional view through portions of a body bolster and truck bolster of a railway vehicle showing improved side bearing constructions assembled therewith;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of an improved side bearing or bumper construction;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the bearing construction shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a side bearing assembly shown in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through a side bearnite States Patent ing assembly taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through portions of a side bearing assembly, taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of a shim utilized in connection with an improved side bearing assembly for railway cars.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1, a car bolster and truck bolster assembly is generally designated by the reference character 10. The assembly 10 comprises a body bolster 11 adapted to be secured to the underneath side of a railway car in structural relation. A bearing member 12 is centrally suitably connected to the body bolster 11 and includes a kingpin 13 projecting downwardly from the said bearing member 12. The bearing member 12 is in bearing engagement with a bearing plate 14 having an annular flange 15. The hearing plate 14 comprises a downwardly extending portion 16 which is suitably secured in an annular supporting flange 17 integral with a truck bolster 18. The truck bolster 18 is suitably assembled with a railway truck including wheels (not shown). As indicated the kingpin 13 extends through the portion 16 and is suitably connected thereto for relative pivotal movement and is held against vertical displacement by means of a suitable pin 19. The above construction is generally conventional and various conventional departures may exist in structures of this type.

The bolster 18 is also provided with upper flanges 20 and as indicated, a pair of side hearing or bumper assemblies are connected to the upper flanges 20 in laterally spaced position on opposite sides of the kingpin 13.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2 through 5 a side bearing or bumper assembly is generally indicated by the reference character 21. The side bearing or bumper assembly 40 comprises a base 22 having a plurality of openings 23. The bumper assembly 21 may be suitably made in the form of a casting and includes a cylindrical portion 24 integral with the base 22. The cylindrical portion 24 is provided at its lower end with a slot 25 and the said cylindrical portion 24 is suitably supported by means of a plurality of webs 26 as indicated. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 24 being integral with the base 22 also includes a solid bottom 27.

Referring now particularly to Figure 7 a shim is generally designated by the reference character 28. The shim 28 comprises a flat plate 29 having at one end a semi-circular or sector portion 30 having at one end a straight cord edge 31 spaced from the center of the sector portion 30 and intersecting the circumference of the sector portion 30 as indicated. The flat plate 29 also comprises an integral handle or projecting portion 32 and a center line extending through the handle or projecting portion 32 and the center or radius point of the sector portion 36 is indicated by the reference character 33. It will be noted that the cord edge 31 is disposed in non-parallel or angular relation with respect to the center line 33.

The handle portion 32 is also provided with an opening 34. As indicated in Figure l, the side hearing assemblies 21 are suitably connected to the flange 20 by means of bolt and nut assemblies 35. As best indicated in Figure 2 the handle portions 32 of a plurality of shims may be suitably locked together through the openings 34 by means of a rivet 36 or similar fastening device such as a pin, etc., the same also being securely connected to the cylindrical portion 24 as later described. The side bearing assembly 21 is also provided with a suitable tube bumper in the form of a cylindrical member 37. The cylinder 37 as indicated in Figure 1 is adapted to be engaged by the lower edges of the body bolster 11 to act as a bumper or hearing for the said upper or body bolster 11.

In the operation of the side bearing assembly 21 tilting movement of the railway car is transmitted to the body bolster 11 and such tilting movement is limited by either side bearing assembly 21 since the cylindrical member 37 is engaged by the lower edges of the body bolster 11. Such tilting movement of course may also result from tilting movement of the truck assembly, this particularly being the case during movement of the railway vehicle on curves and turns. tween the cylindrical member 37 and the underneath side of the body bolster 11' be maintained within certain tolerances. Thus during wear of the cylindrical member 37 and associated structure it is a simple matter to insert or remove additional shims 28 by simply removing the fastener 36 and adding the additional shim.

In order to assemble the shims 29 with respect to the cylindrical portion 24 it is a simple matter to insert the shims, by proper turning of the same, to such a position that the cord edge 31 is disposed to clear the. slot 25. Thus even though the diameter of the sector portion 3'1 is greater than the cross-sectional width of the opening 25, a dimension perpendicular to the cord edge 31 and intersecting the circumference of the shim, is less than the width of the opening 25. Thus by turning the shim the lesser dimension is presented to the opening and it can easily he slid through the opening 25 into position. After the sector is within the cylindrical portion 24 it is a simple matter to turn the same, by means of the handle 32 into the normal operating position whereupon the larger diameter of the sector 30 prevents the shim from being withdrawn through the slot 25. Thus the shim is securely locked since the pin 36 is placed into locking engagement with respect to upper and lower projecting lips 38 and 39 integral with the cylindrical portion 24. In other words by virtue of the pin 36 which extends through the lips 38 and 39 the handle portions are prevented against turning movement and thus there is no possibility of the shims becoming dislodged from the cylindrical portion 24.

It can thus be seen that additional shims can easiiy be inserted or removed. In the event that additional shims cannot be added it is a simple matter to insert a new cylindrical bumper 37 and again during wear the relative height between the bumper and the body bolster may be adjusted by means of adding or removing additional shims.

It is thus obvious that an improved side bearing construction has been shown and described, the same having provisions permitting ease of maintenance and thus completely accomplishing the objects of the invention. It must, of course, be realized that changes and modifications may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A side bearing construction adapted to be positioned between the body bolster and truck bolster of a railway vehicle comprising; a base, an upright cylindrical member supported on said base, said cylindrical member having at its lower end a slot extending partially around the circumference of said cylindrical member, upper and lower aligned projecting members, said projecting members having aligned openings, a tubular bumper element disposed in said cylindrical member, projecting vertically outwardly above said cylindrical member and adapted to engage the body bolster of a railway vehicle in bearing relation, means for adjusting said vertical projection of said tubular bumper element comprising a plurality of shims disposed in stacked relation beneath said tubular bumper and within said cylindrical member, each shim comprising a fiat segment shaped body member having an outer edge including portions conforming generally to the inner diameter of the cylindrical member, said outer edge It is required that the spacing be register with each other and with the openings of said projecting member, and removable fastening means extending through said openings.

2. A side bearing construction adapted to be positioned between the body bolster and truck bolster of a railway vehicle comprising, a base; anupright cylindrical member supported on said base, said cylindrical member having at its lower end a slot extending partially around the circumference of said cylindrical member, upper and lower aligned projecting members, said projecting members having aligned openings, a bumper element disposed in said cylindrical member, projecting outwardly above said cylindrical member and adapted toengage the body bolster of a railway vehicle in bearing relation, means for adjusting said outward projection of said tubular bumper element comprising a plurality of shims beneath said tubularbumper and within said cylindrical member, each shim comprising a fiat segment shaped body member having an outer edge with portions conforming generally to the inner diameter of the cylindrical member, said outer edge terminating in a generally straight peripheral edge, the diameter of said segment being greater than the dimensional width of the slot, a dimension perpendicular to the straight edge and intersecting the outer edge being less than the dimensional width of said slot whereupon during rotation of said shims relative to said slot said shims may be inserted and removed through said slot, and means securing said shims against rotation comprising projecting elements on said shims, said elements having openings adapted to register with each other and with the openings or" said projecting member and removable fastening means extendingthrough said openings.

3. A side bearing construction adapted to be positioned between the body bolster and track bolster of a railway vehicle comprising; a base, an upright cylindrical member supported on said base, said cylindrical member having at its lower end a slot extending partially around the circumference of said cylindrical member, upper and lower aligned projecting members, a bumper element disposed in said cylindrical member, projecting vertically outwardly above said cylindrical member and adapted to engage .the body bolster of a railway vehicle in bearing relation, means for adjusting said vertical projection of said tubular bumper element comprising a plurality of shims disposed in stacked relation beneath said tubular bumper and within said cylindrical member, each shim comprising a flat segment shaped body member having an outer edge with portions conforming generally to the inner diameter of the cylindrical member, said outer edge terminating in a generally straight edge, the diameter of said segment being greater than the dimensional width of the slot, a dimension perpcndicular to the straight edge and intersecting the outer edge being less than the dimensional width of said slot whereupon during rotation of said shims relative to said slot said shims may be inserted and removed through said slot, and means securing said shims against rotation comprising projecting elements on said shims, and re movable fastening means engaging said projecting members and said projecting elements.

4. A side bearing construction adapted to be positioned between the body bolster and truck bolster of a railway vehicle comprising; a base, an upright cylindrical member supported on said base, said cylindrical mem her having at its lower end a slot extending partially around the circumference of said cylindrical member, a

tubular bumper element disposed in said cylindrical member, projecting outwardly above said cylindrical member and adapted to engage the body bolster of a railway vehicle in bearing relation, means for adjusting said outward projection of said tubular bumper element comprising at least one shim beneath said tubular bumper and within said cylindrical member, said shim comprising a flat segment shaped body member having an outer edge, portions of which conform generally to the inner diameter of the cylindrical member, said outer edge terminating in a generally straight peripheral edge, the diameter of said segment being greater than the dimensional width of the slot, a dimension perpendicular to the straight edge and intersecting the outer edge being less than the dimensional width of said slot whereupon during rotation of said shim, relative to said slot said shim may be inserted and removed through said slot, and means securing said shim against rotation comprising disengageable means connecting said shim to said cylindrical member.

5. A side bearing construction adapted to be positioned between the body bolster and truck bolster of a railway vehicle comprising; a base, an upright cylindrical member supported on said base, said cylindrical member having at its lower end a slot extending partially around the circumference of said cylindrical member, a bumper element adjustably disposed in said cylindrical member, means for adjusting said tubular element comprising at least one shim beneath said tubular bumper and within said cylindrical member, said shim comprising a flat segment shaped body member having an outer edge, portions of which conform generally to the inner diameter of the cylindrical member, said outer edge terminating in a generally straight peripheral edge, the diameter of said segment being greater than the dimensional width of the slot, a dimension perpendicular to the straight edge and intersecting the outer edge being less than the dimensional width of said slot whereupon during rotation of said shim, relative to said slot said shim may be inserted and removed through said slot, and means securing said shim against rotation comprising disengageable means connecting said shim to said cylindrical member.

6. A side bearing construction for railway vehicles comprising an upright cylindrical member having an inner wall, a closed bottom and an open top, said cylindrical member having near its bottom a transversely extending arcuate slot, a bumper vertically adjustable within said cylindrical member, means for adjusting said bumper comprising at least one shim disposed between said bumper and said closed bottom, said shim comprising a flat segment having a peripheral edge, a portion of which generally conforms to the inner wall of the cylindrical member, said peripheral edge terminating on one side of said member in a straight edge portion, the diameter dimension of the segment being greater than the cross-sectional width of said arcuate slot, the perpendicular dimension from the straight edge to the periperal edge being less than the cross-sectional width of said slot, whereby during rotating movement of said shim the same may be inserted and removed through said slot, and means securing said shim against rotation relative to said cylindrical member.

7. A side bearing construction for railway vehicles comprising an upright cylindrical member having an inner wall, a closed bottom and an open top, said cylindrical member having near its bottom a transversely extending slot, a bumper adjustable within said cylindrical member, means for adjusting said bumper comprising at least one shim disposed between said bumper and said closed bottom, said shim comprising a fiat segment having a peripheral edge having at least a portion generally conforming to the inner wall of the cylindrical member, said peripheral edge terminating on one side of said member in a straight edge portion, the diameter dimension of the segment being greater than the cross-sectional width of said arcuate slot, the perpendicular dimension from the straight edge to the peripheral edge being less than the cross-sectional width of said slot, whereby during rotating movement of said shim the same may be inserted and removed through said slot, and means securing said shim against rotation relative to said cylindrical member.

8. A side bearing construction for railway vehicles comprising an upright cylindrical member having an inner wall, a closed bottom and an open top, said cylindrical member having near its bottom a transversely extending slot, a bumper vertically adjustable within said cylindrical member, means for adjusting said bumper comprising at least one shim disposed between said bumper and said closed bottom, said shim comprising a flat segment having a peripheral edge, portions of which generally conform to the inner wall of the cylindrical member, said peripheral edge terminating on one side of said member in a straight edge portion, the diameter dimension of the segment being greater than the crosssectional width of said arcuate slot, the perpendicular dimension from the straight edge to the peripheral edge being less than the cross-sectional width of said slot, whereby during one position said shim is locked in said cylindrical member, and in another position said shim may be inserted or removed through said slot.

9. A side bearing construction for railway vehicles comprising an upright cylindrical member having an inner wall, a closed bottom and an open top, said cylindrical member having near its bottom a transversely extending slot, a bumper vertically adjustable within said cylindrical member, means for adjusting said bumper comprising at least one shim disposed between said bumper and said closed bottom, said shim comprising a flat segment having a peripheral edge, a portion of which generally conforms to the inner wall of the cylindrical member, said peripheral edge terminating on one side of said member in a straight edge portion, the diameter dimension of the segment being greater than the crosssectional width of said arcuate slot, the perpendicular dimension from the straight edge to the peripheral edge being less than the cross-sectional width of said slot, whereby during one position said shim is locked in said cylindrical member, and in another position said shim may be inserted or removed through said slot, and means securing said shim against rotation relative to said cylin drical member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 675,727 Goltra June 4, 1901 

